Erased Tapes Collection II

From Modern-Classical to Post-Rock to Hometronica to Intelligent Dance, Erased Tapes Records have a reputation for discovering innovative new artists and have released a second collection of songs. The album, originally released 03/01/2010, was free of charge in celebration for their third birthday, and features artists such as Ólafur Arnalds, Rival Consoles, Codes In The Clouds and Peter Broderick, all very unique with their own personal styles. The album flows beautifully, breaking you in with 1985, a track designed for dance to a peaceful middle section with Ljósið. The album gradually gets louder until the trance like finale track And It’s Alright (Nils Frahm RMX), which truly ends the album perfectly.

You will not be disappointed with this compilation of extraordinary artists. 9

New Rising Media Christmas Gift Guide: Music

The standard music recommended in Christmas gift guides across the globe can get rather dire. A selection of albums from the most commercialised of "talent," which quickly loses all musical value in a storm of stereotypical song structure and torrenting. With that in mind, we've counted down the Top 25 albums of this year, all of which will make a great present in both physical or downloaded form.

Heyward Howkins - Hale & Hearty Review

Think of an finely tuned mix of City and Colour, The Cure, Bon Iver and Nick Drake. Add some very Sgt. Pepper-esque vocal mixing, and combine all of this with minimal song textures. That is essentially what Philadelphia's own Heyward Howkins has created, and the wistfullness and simplicity shown is downright hypnotic from start to finish.

Flobots - The Circle In The Square Review

This progressive blend of hip hop and groove-fusion hits somewhere between the two marks set by their previous efforts: debut album 'Fight With Tools' and 2010's 'Survival Story.' A hybrid between the popular-ism of the initial and the distinctive nature of the latter. The result is something that both works and doesn't at the same time.

The Como Brothers - Baby Steps EP Review

The Como Brothers are siblings from New York with music in their blood. The duo's rock with an alternative blues twist is perfect for any fans of John Mayer, The Black Keys, or the earlier material of Maroon 5.

Early Copies Of Mass Effect 3 To Be Launched Into Space

As anticipation for EA and Bioware’s epic conclusion to the Mass Effect saga balloons to atmospheric-breaking levels, EA is giving the chance to fans of the franchise to play the game more than a week early – but not in the way you’d have imagined.